High temps today sunny was a good day to blow a head gasket i guess. The old idi was running hot or high on the gauge got on the highway and it still was climbing. Coal started rolling from the tail pipe at 65mph and the ship started sinking. Power loss and you could smell all the grease starting to liquify on the engine . Then rolled to the shoulder and she was finished...So had to hitch a ride on my friends flatbed from the interstate to my home .

I have begun checking it out .Radiator was low oil low to .Topped off the fluids and started it and I've got a volcano of water blowing out of the radiator neck.Drained the radiator and started it slight miss and you can here pop pop pop coming from the radiator with puffs of steam water and what not.

So its head gasket time and i hope I will need no head work .Money is tight right now. So suggestions on gaskets anyone .Northenauto had a 132.00 head set and a 50.00 valley pan set. Is it common to replace the head bolts ? I believe its a 7.3 from a 92 van in my truck.

 

do you know how hot it really was? my stock temp gage is absolute garbage, and sometimes reads higher than the "l" of "normal" while actual temp is 195-200.
sounds like you really cooked it
at least have the heads checked out by a machinist

 

Do a compression test before you pull it apart that way you know 7 of 8 are good, A fluid test (when the head is off)on the blown gasket cylinder will tell you if its ok or not but isnt as good as a compression test ...The valley pan is reusable if your careful with it and its in good shape, Just be sure to clean it really good and use good RTV on it.

 

I pulled the valve covers and the majority of the clutter from the top end tonight.The engine Is real clean under the valve covers and this look tight.I had it running again before i tore it apart.It started just fine and still runs strong with just a slight miss or skip .When i get the heads off i will know more .This is the first time cracking this engine open I've only needed to change the water pump and fuel pump in 4 years of use .Ive got the nuts on the injectors soaking with blaster a couple are to tight on their lines to turn free.

 

Second cyl from the rear on the drivers side has a crack in the intake valve area from the seat heading outward . So im looking for a engine to swap out .I have found a 6.9 in a 87 hope to here it run and believe it will be a direct swap.my truck has a 7.3 and a t-19 4spd and i believe the bell housing should be a direct fit for the 6.9.any suggestions?

 

I'm in Ohio or I might be able to fix you up with a 6.9.I have one sitting in the shed.That would be one long drive to buy an old IDI.LOL

 

thanks man .Ive found one from a local tow guy 87 6.9 in a f250 4x4 with 124,000 mi on it . i bought the transfer case from the truck about 3 month ago rusty body but engine and drive line were good looking.We need to get some batteries and fuel in it to see if it runs good still.I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it will be the one for me.Having this truck down is a problem for me its my busy season right now.I'm hoping the swap will be straight forward for this and i have a new clutch /press plate / throw out, on the shelf in the shop still in the package i will be throwing in it to.

 

Why not just find a new head, or used one. The 7.3 has a little more power then the 6.9

Chet

 

It has a 10 hp difference N/A....the thing to scoop up are the rocker arms off the 7.3...

 

Please inform me more about the rocker arms from my 7.3 and why i want to keep them?

I have only found junk yard heads for 175.00 each and even if i change one i will still have close to 400 in it with gaskets .I did not do a compression check before tear down and don't feel confident because of that . When i get the engine out i will remove the other head and see what it looks like.If there was no cracks i would have just put it back together. When i swap the engine i will do a oil pan gasket ,valve cover gaskets and rear main before install along with water pump and thermostat.

 

The rocker arms from a 7.3 are stronger than the 6.9s...unless its an 87 motor your dropping in, which should have them already.

If your doing thermostat, make sure you use a motorcraft thermostat, the others are crap and wont work.....